Method of constructing picker-stems



(No Model.)

G. N. TODD.

METHOD 0F GUNSTRUGTING PGKER STBMS.

No. 388,797. Patented Aug. 28, l888..

In@ a7."

NrrnD STATES Paritair Ormes..

GEORGE N. TODD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE TODD COTTON HARVESTER COMPANY, OF ILLINOIS.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING PICKER-STEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,797, dated August 28, 1888.

Application iilcd December 13, 1887. Serial No. 257.163. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Re it known that I, Geenen N. TODD, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, county ofCool ,aii(lState of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful [lnprovemenis in the Method for .Producing Picker-Steins, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the method of forming picker-stems to be used in cottonharvcsters, the general contour of which is that of a cylinder having teeth upon the periphery thereof pointing substantially at right angles to the length of the stem.

rIhe prime object of this invention is to produce a picker-stein composed of a strip of sheet metal which shall combine all the fune tions, strength, and effectiveness of the usual hollow or solid cylindrical picker-stem, but at greatly-reduced cost and materially-lessened weight, whereby material heretofore considcrcd as waste may be utilized and the number of stems heretofore employed in cottonharvcstcrsgreatly increased. I attain this` ob- `iect by means of the process hereinafter fully dcscribed,the steps and order of steps of which arc fully set forth, and the results of which steps are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fi gu re l represents aside elevation of a pickcr-stem complete, made in accordance with my process; Fig. 2, the blank from which the stem is formed, and Fig. 3 the blank bent be fore being coiled to form a stem.

In referring to thc accompanyingdrawings, the saine rel'crcneclctters refer to the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out my invention I first take a narrow strip of sheet metal, A, such as is shown in Fig. 2, but of a suitable length, and stamp or cut therein the teeth B, arranged in one or more longitudinal series about the center of width thereof, or else secure to such strip, by soldering, screwing, or otherwise, teeth formed independently thereof. The points of the teeth, whether integral or indepcndent,should lie longitudinally of the strip, for the purpose hereinafter explained. I next bend the strip by hand or machinery transversely of its len gth,as shown in Fig. 3, thereby forming a concave-convex strip with the teeth upon the convex surface thereof, after which the strip is formed into a spiral coil, as shown in Fig. l, thereby forming the body of a picker-stem, which, while it has a general cylindrical form and is provided with teeth upon the periphery thereof, is composed of considerably less material than the ordinary cylindrical stem, and may be made of strips which have heretofore been considered as waste material. The other end of the spiral coil is 6o wound upon a slightly-smaller arc than the main body, in order to forni a rounded entering-point, or, if desired, a separate entering point or cap of any suitable construction may be provided for this purpose. The opposite or inner endof thecoil,iu order to form a complete picker-stem, is rigidly secured to the shank C of a small gear-wheel, D, by means of which latter a rotary motion may be imparted to the stem when mounted in a cottonharvester. The lteeth of the picker-stc1n,when complete or after the toothed strip has been wound into a spiral coil,point at substantially a right angle to the length of the stem, although longitudinally of the strip of which the stem is composed,the ceiling of the strip producing this result, which of course is necessary, in order to render the picker-stein op erative when rotated upon its axis, as is usual in cotton-harvesters.

A picker-stem produced in the manner herein described will possess allof the advantages coui mon to the ordinary cylindrical stem, both of strength,effectiveness, and durability, without being nearly so heavy, and as a result a much larger number of such stems may be operated with a given amount of power than is possible with the stems as heretofore constructed, and such increase in the number of stems is desirable for obvious reasons. 9o

Having described iny invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

l. The hercinldcscribcd methods for producing picker-stoms for eotton-harvestcrs, the same consisting in winding into a spiral coil a toothed strip of metal and then securing to one end thereof a gear-wheel, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. Thehereindescribed methods for producroo ing pickerstenis for cotton-harvesters, the same consisting in hrst stamping, cutting, or

otherwise forming teethin or upon a dat strip of sheet metal, then bending said strip trams` versely of its length with the teeth upon the concave side thereof, then winding said strip into a spiral coil, and iinally securing to one end ofsaid coil a gear-wheel or its equivalent, substantially as described.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a pieker-stem, the body of which is composed of a strip of toothed metal coiled spirally and hav- Io ing a gear-Wheel or its equivalent secured to one end thereof', substantially as described. GEORGE N. TODD. Witnesses:

hWILL R. OMOHUNDRO, W. W. ELLIOTT. 

